#28 Firefox and Mozilla 1.8a hang when changing versions

[Steven Michaud]

(I, the developer, am reporting this to make people
aware of it.)

This problem is the result of a bad interaction between
the latest version (0.8.8) of the Java Embedding Plugin
(the one that fixes the "Sun Java Plugin Arbitrary
Package Access" security hole) and Firefox's behavior
when you change Firefox versions or install and run it
for the first time. The problem will be fixed in the
next release of the Java Embedding Plugin. But in the
meantime an easy workaround is available. (See below
for the details.)

When you run a different version of Firefox for the
first time (either because you've installed a new
version or because you've gone back to an older one),
Firefox quits and restarts (its icon bounces in the
Dock, disappears momentarily and reappears) before
opening a browser window. (I believe it needs to do
this to rewrite your settings.) But this interacts
badly with part of JEP 0.8.8's fix for the "Arbitrary
Package Access" hole, and causes Firefox to hang at
startup.

Until I can fix this problem and release a new version
of the Java Embedding Plugin, you will need to perform
the following steps every time you run a "new" version
of Firefox:

1. If Firefox is hung, "force quit" it (click and hold
on the Firefox icon in the Dock, then choose "Force
Quit").

2. Drag JavaEmbeddingPlugin.bundle from your
/Library/Internet Plug-Ins folder to your Desktop.

3. Start and quit Firefox twice. (The first time you
start it you'll see the bouncing icon business in
the Dock. Why you need to start and quit Firefox
the second time I don't know ... but it seems to be
necessary at least on OS X 10.3.X.)

4. Drag JavaEmbeddingPlugin.bundle back from your
Desktop to your /Library/Internet Plug-Ins folder.

[Steven Michaud]

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The same problem has been reported with Mozilla 1.8a3, and I
was able to reproduce it. The same fix works, too.

Likewise with Mozilla 1.8a1, and so (presumably) with all
the other 1.8a versions.

[Oakland Raider]

Logged In: YES
user_id=864431

Just additional information: This occurs when I try to
install any extensions using .xpi (I have only tried three
- but they all exhibit the same behavior)

The "workaround" is exactly as you describe.

[Steven Michaud]

Logged In: YES
user_id=848669

This problem is fixed in JEP 0.8.9, just released.